ARRL Special Bulletin ARLX015 (2012)

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ARLX015 Ethiopian Amateur Radio Society Chairman Sid T. May, ET3SID
(SK)
ZCZC AX15
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Special Bulletin 15 ARLX015
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT September 26, 2012
To all radio amateurs
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ARLX015 Ethiopian Amateur Radio Society Chairman Sid T. May, ET3SID
(SK)
Ethiopian Amateur Radio Society (EARS) Chairman Sid T. May,
ET3SID/G4CTQ/AB3OZ, passed away September 25. In 1993, May
established ET3AA, the first Amateur Radio club in Ethiopia.
According to Hailemelekot Negussie, AB3OX, of EARS, May has taught
Amateur Radio licensing classes in Ethiopia for more than 15 years.
EARS is Ethiopia's IARU Member-Society.
An accredited ARRL Volunteer Examiner (VE), May administered the FCC
license exam to prospective Ethiopian hams. He took part in
administering an FCC exam session in December 2011 where more than
50 Ethiopians received US call signs; May gave his last exam session
on September 10, with 18 sitting for the exam. Due to Ethiopian law,
it is nearly impossible for Ethiopians to get an Ethiopian Amateur
Radio license. "Unfortunately, Ethiopian Security still controls the
licensing system," said IARU Region 1 President Hans Blondeel
Timmerman, PB2T. "I am afraid that more work has to be done to
convince the authorities that today's students are tomorrow's
leaders and that in principle, they are good Ethiopians who deserve
their government's confidence. Another hurdle to overcome is the
examination fee of 25 British pounds, a one month's salary in
Ethiopia."
According to May's QSL card, May was primarily a RTTY operator. He
held call signs in Zambia (9J2ED), St Kitts (VP2KH), Montserrat
(VP2MKH), Oman (AX4JB), Nigeria (5N0SID), Gibraltar (ZB2HL) and
Sudan (G4CTQ/ST2). He is a member of the Radio Society of Great
Britain (RSGB) and in 1973, helped found the St Kitts Nevis and
Anguilla Radio Society (SNARS). He founded EARS in the 1990s.
"Sid was a teacher, a mentor and a father to all of us at ET3AA,"
Negussie explained. "We feel very saddened about the news, and
extend our condolences to his family and wish for his soul to rest
in peace. Sid is survived by hundreds of ambitious radio hams and
engineers who will forever be inspired by his humbleness and
vision."
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